What causes constipation?

In most cases, as food moves through your colon, the colon absorbs water while it makes stool. Muscle movements (contractions) push the stool toward your rectum. When the stool gets to the rectum, most of the water has been soaked up. The stool is now solid.

If you have constipation, your colon's muscle movements are too slow. This makes the stool move through your colon too slowly. The colon absorbs too much water. The stool gets very hard and dry.

Some of the most common diet and lifestyle causes of constipation are:

Not getting enough exercise

Not drinking enough liquids

Not eating enough fiber

Not moving your bowels when you feel the urge to

Changes in your lifestyle, such as travel, pregnancy, and old age

Other causes of constipation include:

Medicines

A problem with how your stomach and bowels work (such as irritable bowel syndrome)

Your intestine does not work well

Taking too many medicines that help to loosen your bowels (laxatives)

Metabolic problems such as thyroid disease

Intestinal blockage

What are the symptoms of constipation?

Each person’s symptoms may vary. Symptoms of constipation may include:

Difficult and painful bowel movements

Less than 3 bowel movements a week

Feeling bloated

Not having much energy

Belly (abdominal) pain

Ineffective straining to move your bowels

The symptoms of constipation can look like other health problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider to be sure.

How is constipation diagnosed?

Most people have constipation at one time or another. To see if you have constipation, your healthcare provider will do several tests. These tests will depend on how long you have had symptoms and how serious your case is.

First your healthcare provider will look at:

Your age

If you have any blood in your stool

Any changes in your bowel habits

Weight loss

Your healthcare provider will likely:

Ask about your past health.You will be asked to give details about your constipation,, such as how long you have had symptoms and how often you have bowel movements.

Give you a physical exam.Your healthcare provider will do a full physical exam.

Give you a digital rectal exam. This exam helps tell if the area is soft, blocked, or bloody. It can also check how much and what kind of stool you have. Your healthcare provider will also see if your rectum is bigger than normal.

Your healthcare provider may also do other tests such as:

Abdominal X-ray.This X-ray test can show the fullness of the bowels.

Blood work.Blood is taken for testing.

Lower GI series (also called barium enema).This is an X-ray exam of your rectum, the large intestine, and the lower part of your small intestine. You will be given a fluid called barium. It coats the organs, so that they can be seen on an X-ray. An X-ray of your belly will show if you have any narrowed areas (strictures), blockages, or other problems.

Colonoscopy.This test looks at the full length of your large intestine. It can help check for any abnormal growths, tissue that is red or swollen, sores (ulcers), or bleeding.

Sigmoidoscopy.This test lets your healthcare provider check the inside of part of your large intestine. It helps to tell what is causing constipation.

Colorectal transit study.This test shows how long it takes for food to move through your colon. You will be asked to swallow pills (capsules) filled with small markers that can be seen on an X-ray. The X-rays will show how the capsules moved through your colon.

Anus and rectum (anorectal) function tests.These tests can tell if you are constipated because your anus or rectum is not working well.

How is constipation treated?

Your healthcare provider will come up with a care plan for you based on:

Your age, overall health, and past health

How serious your case is

How well you handle certain medicines, treatments, or therapies

If your condition is expected to get worse

Your opinion and what you want to do

In most cases, diet and lifestyle changes can help reduce constipation symptoms. They can also stop it from happening. These changes may include: